Wheel Storage Rack

ABSTRACT

A wheel storage rack for storing wheels when not in use includes a vertically extending central post with arms extending from the central post. The arms support receivers for attaching wheel mounts. Each wheel mount is removably attachable to a wheel. The wheel mount has a hub for attaching to the inside surface of a wheel. A lug bolt passes through a lug hole in the wheel to secure the wheel to the hub, and a mounting post extends from the wheel mount in a direction opposite the hub. The mounting post is inserted into the receiver to mount the wheel to the storage rack.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/940,832 filed May 30, 2007, which provisional application is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention relate to a wheel storage rack. Moreparticularly, embodiments of the invention relate to a wheel storagerack for storing automotive type wheels when not in use.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

There is a large market for aftermarket wheels and tires. A significantnumber of consumers will choose to personalize their vehicle byreplacing their vehicle's stock wheel-tire combination for aftermarketwheels and tires in order to enhance the aesthetics or performance ofthe vehicle. Additionally, many new cars are now sold with “performance”type wheels and tires. However, these aftermarket and performance tiresare often not optimal for in snow, ice, rain, and other inclementweather. Therefore, many consumers will choose to apply the aftermarketwheel-tire combo during fair weather periods of the year and will mountthe stock wheel-tire combination during the “off season.” Additionally,consumers in living in snowy or icy climates may choose to replace theirvehicle's stock wheel-tire combination with snow tires during the wintermonths. In either case, the consumer will need to store the unusedwheels and tires safely and securely when not in use.

Simply stacking the wheels on the floor of the consumer's garage isproblematic. The tires are susceptible to dry rot and flat spots, andthe wheels may be more likely to become dirty, rusted, or tarnished.Additionally, potentially useful garage floor space is taken up storingthe tires. Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus tostore a cleaned and prepared set of wheels and tires that will be readyto install on a vehicle when the appropriate season arrives.

U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D252,600 and D255,292 describe tire display standsin which a fixture is placed inside the tire to secure the tire to thestand. Such stands would not be appropriate for use with wheel-tirecombinations.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 10-236616 teaches a tire-storing devicein which wheels are positioned on a “rod means” which passes through thecenter hole of a wheel. The wheels can then be lifted into a storageposition at the top of a support column.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,607 shows a device for storing vehicle wheels inwhich wheels are lifted onto the storage device and secured by passing athreaded bolt through the center hole of the wheel. The wheel is securedto the storage device by tightening a threaded nut or cap against anoutside surface of the wheel.

The devices shown in each of these references have limitations for usein storing wheels. For example, with the device shown in U.S. Pat. No.6,499,607, the wheel must be lifted onto the threaded bolt and held inplace while the cap or nut is tightened. Such a process requiresstrength and dexterity. Additionally, none of the devices shown in thesereferences is capable of storing a wheel without a through center holeor a wheel with a hubcap attached.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a wheel storage rackcapable of safely and compactly storing wheels while requiring a minimumof strength and dexterity to mount the wheels to the rack. There is alsoa need in the art for a wheel storage rack capable of storing wheelswithout a through center hole or a wheels with a hubcaps attached.Therefore, it is a feature of an embodiment of the present invention toprovide for these and other needs.

In an embodiment of the invention, a wheel mount is removably attachableto a wheel. The wheel mount comprises: a hub having a wheel mountingsurface adapted to contact an inside surface of the wheel, a lug boltpassing through a lug hole formed in the wheel and secured to the wheelmounting surface, and a mounting post extending from the wheel mount ina direction opposite the wheel mounting surface. A receiver comprising areceptacle adapted to receive the mounting post is mounted to thestorage rack.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a method for storing wheels ona storage rack when not in use comprises the step of mounting a wheelmount to a wheel, which requires positioning a wheel mounting surface ofa hub against an inside surface of the wheel, passing a lug bolt througha lug hole formed in the wheel, securing the lug bolt to the hub, andsecuring the wheel to the hub. The method further comprises mounting thewheel mount and wheel to the storage rack by lifting the wheel anappropriate height so that a mounting post extending from the wheelmount corresponds to the height of a receiver mounted to the storagerack and inserting the mounting post into a receptacle formed in thereceiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an embodiment of the invention adapted formounting to a vertical surface, such as a wall. One arm is shown withthe wheel removed.

FIG. 2 is a cut-away side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 alongline A.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment having a central post and mounted to ahorizontal surface.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment having a central post and mounted to abase having castors.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment for removably mounting a central post to abase.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment for suspending the rack beneath ahorizontal surface, such as a ceiling.

FIG. 7 shows a cut-away side view of an embodiment the receiver andmounting block with a wheel attached.

FIG. 8 is an exploded, cut-away view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a wheel mount hub.

FIG. 10 illustrates a lug bolt for use with the embodiment of FIG. 9.The sleeve is shown cut-away.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of a wheel mount hub.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is intended to convey a thorough understandingof the embodiments by providing a number of specific embodiments anddetails involving a wheel storage rack. It is understood, however, thatthe invention is not limited to these specific embodiments and details,which are exemplary only. It is further understood that one possessingordinary skill in the art, in light of known devices, systems andmethods, would appreciate the use of the invention for its intendedpurposes and benefits in any number of alternative embodiments.

Throughout this description, the term “wheel” is used to refer to awheel (rim) alone or to a wheel in combination with a tire mounted tothe wheel. Therefore, unless the context specifically requiresotherwise, when the description references a wheel, it should beunderstood that this could be a wheel without a tire mounted to thewheel or a wheel in combination with a mounted tire. In referring to awheel, this description uses the term “inside” to refer to the side ofthe wheel generally facing toward the body of the vehicle and the term“outside” to refer to the side of the wheel generally facing away fromthe body of the vehicle.

Embodiments of the invention are generally described throughout thisdescription as being adapted for use with automotive type wheels andtires. However, the invention is not so limited. Embodiments of theinvention may be appropriate for storing any number of different wheels,such as wheels for cars, trucks, trailers, motorcycles, bicycles, ATVsand other recreational vehicles, go carts, and any other vehicle orapparatus having removable wheels.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the presentinvention. As used throughout this disclosure, the singular forms “a”“an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “a wheel” includesa plurality of wheels, as well as a single wheel, and a reference to “asupport arm” is a reference to one or more arms and equivalents thereofknown to those skilled in the art, and so forth.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, embodiments of the present invention comprisea central support member or post 102. Arms 104 extend from the centralpost 102. Wheels 106 mount to an end portion 108 of each arm 104.

The rack may be arranged in a variety of configurations. For example, asillustrated in FIGS. 1-2, the rack comprises a central post 102 witharms 104 extending from the post in a single plane. The wheels 106 arethen mounted to a front side 110 of the end portion 108 of each arm.With a rack 100 in this configuration, the wheels 106 extend in aparallel direction from a front surface 110 of the rack. The rearsurface of the rack 112 may then be positioned against a wall 114 andsecured to the wall. The central post 102 includes through holes 116allowing mounting screws or bolts 118 to pass through the holes andsecure the rack to a wall 114 or other vertical surface. These throughholes 116 may be arranged in a vertical line allowing the rack 100 to besecured to a single stud as would be found in a typical wall.Additionally, arms 104 may include one or more further through holes 120for further securing the rack 100 to the wall 114. These additionalthrough holes 120 may be spaced a horizontal distance of sixteen (16) ortwenty-four (24) inches from the central through holes 116 so that thespacing will equate to standard stud spacing and the rack can be moresecurely fastened to the wall.

In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 3-4, the rack 100may comprise central post 102 with arms 104 extending out from the post.Wheels 106 are mounted to the end of the arm 104. The arms may extendout in various directions and configurations as would be convenient forstoring the wheels. The central post 102 may be fixed at its base to asurface such as a floor or counter top. As shown in FIG. 3, a base plate122 is connected to the lower end 142 of central post 102. The baseplate extends in a plane perpendicular to the central post 102 andparallel to mounting surface 124. The base plate 122 is secured to themounting surface 124 by fasteners, such as bolts 126, extending throughthe base plate 122 and into the mounting surface 124. Alternatively,wheels or castors 128 are attached to base plate 122 so that the entireassembly, including attached wheels 106 can be easily moved. Individuallegs may extend from the central post 102 in place of base plate 122.

The base plate 122 may be permanently attached to the lower end 142 ofthe central post 102, or the base plate may be removable attached. Asshown in FIG. 5, a stub post 130 extends upwardly from the base plate122. The central post 102 is formed from a tube with the appropriatesize and shape to fit over the stub post 130. The central post 102 isplaced over the stub post 130 and one or more fasteners (132) are passedtransversely through holes in both posts to securely attach the baseplate 122 to the central post 102. Individual legs may extend from thecentral post 102 in place of plate 122, or any other appropriatestructure may be used as would be apparent to one of skill in the art.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a ring 134 or hook extendsfrom an upper end 144 of central post 102. A chain 136, cable, rope, orother support connects the ring 134 with a mounting plate 138 attachedto a ceiling 140 or the undersurface of a support structure, such as ashelf. Alternatively, a stub post, such as shown in FIG. 5, may extenddownwardly from the ceiling such that the upper end 144 of the centralpost 102 extends over the stub post. Transverse fasteners 130 thensecure the stub post to the central post.

Although FIGS. 3-6 show floor or ceiling mounting means for racks havingsymmetrically balanced wheel arrangements, the mounting arrangementsshown could also be used in conjunction with asymmetric wheelarrangements, such as shown in FIG. 2, provided that the base plate 122or ring 134 is correctly positioned to stably balance the rack.

In an embodiment of the invention, a wheel 106 is mounted to the rack100 by first attaching a wheel mount 164 to the wheel 106 and thenmounting the wheel mount and wheel onto the rack. FIGS. 7 and 8illustrate such an embodiment of the invention for mounting a wheel 106to an arm 104 of the rack 100. For each wheel 106 to be stored, areceiver 160 extends from an arm 104. The receiver 160 may extend from afront surface 110 of the arm 104 if used in conjunction with thewall-mount embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Alternatively, thereceiver 106 may extend from the end of an arm 104 or form the entiretyof the arm if used in conjunction with a symmetrical floor or ceilingmounted rack, such as shown in FIGS. 3-6. The receiver 160 is a tube orblock with a mounting receptacle 162 passing through the receiver. Themounting receptacle 162 in the receiver extends in a horizontaldirection and may have a circular inside diameter or may have anothercross-sectional shape.

A wheel mount 164 is attached to a wheel 106. A hub portion 166 of thewheel mount 160 is formed broadly in the shape of an axle hub to which awheel would be mounted when in use on a vehicle. One or more lug bolts168 extend from a forward face 170 of the hub 166. These lug bolts 168extend through lug holes 172 typically formed in a wheel 106. A lug nut174 is then tightened onto each lug bolt 168. In this manner, a wheelmount 164 is attached to each wheel in much the same what that the wheelis typically attached to the vehicle.

The hub portion 166 of the wheel mount 164 may be configured to fit aspecific wheel lug pattern, with a variety of hubs provided to fitvarious standard lug patterns. For example, five lug bolts on a 4.5 inch(114.3 mm) circle is a common wheel bolt pattern. A corresponding wheelmount 164 with a hub having lug bolts 168 positioned with a five boltson 4.5 inch circle pattern would be provided. Appropriate bolt patternswould be provided for the user to select a wheel mount that fit thewheels to be stored. Each of the various wheel mounts 164 would beadapted to fit a standard receiver 160 so that wheels of various sizesand bolt patterns could be mounted to the rack 100.

Alternatively, a “universal” wheel mount 164 capable of mounting avariety of wheels with different bolt patterns may be used. Anembodiment, shown in FIG. 9, would be capable of mounting a wheel havinga bolt pattern of five bolts on a 4.5 inch circle or four bolts on a 4.5inch circle. A wheel mount 164 is provided having a hub portion 166 witha series of threaded holes 188 formed in the forward face 170. The holes188 are each positioned on a 4.5 inch circle B. A first hole 188 c isused for both the four and five bolt pattern. The first hole 188 c inconjunction with a group of four additional holes 188 b, appropriatelyspaced, forms a five on 4.5 pattern. While, the first hole 188 c used inconjunction with a separate group of three additional holes 188 b formsa four on 4.5 pattern.

in order to secure the wheel 106 to the hub 166, a series of lug bolts168 (FIG. 10) are provided. Each of the bolts 168 has a threaded hubportion 190. This hub portion 190 is adapted to thread into holes 188 inthe hub 166. A flange 192 on the bolt 168 allows the bolt to betightened into the hub 166. A second threaded wheel portion 194 extendsfrom the opposite side of flange 192. This wheel portion 194 extendsthrough the lug holes 172 in the wheel 106 and engages a lug nut 174 inorder to secure the wheel 106 to the wheel mount 164. Alternatively, lugbolts having appropriately sized heads may pass through the lug holes172 from the outside surface 202 of the wheel 106 and engage threadedholes 188 to secure the wheel 106 to the hub 160.

Lug bolts 168 are threaded into the appropriate holes 188 in order tomatch the bolt pattern of the wheel to be mounted. A series of differentsized sleeves 198 could be fitted over a portion 196 of the bolt 168 toadapt a single size of bolt 168 for use with wheels having differentsized lug holes 172. The wheel portion 194 of lug bolt 168 may includeda non-threaded shoulder adjacent to the flange 192.

It should be noted that holes 188 and lug bolts 168 need not be providedfor each of the lug holes 172 (FIG. 8) in a wheel 106. For example, awheel 106 having a five lug pattern could be mounted to the wheel mount164 by providing lug bolts 168 at two or three of the five lug hole 172positions. Because the wheel will not need to support the weight of acar, fewer bolts 168 could be used in order to save the cost ofadditional bolts 168 and holes 188 and to save time mounting the wheel106 to the mount 164. Additionally, the hub 166 forward surface 170 mayinclude more than one circle of holes 188. For example, the hub surface170 may include a 4.5 inch diameter circle of holes so that five on 4.5inch and four on 4.5 inch wheels can be mounted, and the hub may alsoinclude a 100 mm (3.94 inch) circle of holes so that live on 100 mm andfour on 100 mm wheels can be fitted.

As shown in FIG. 11, a further embodiment of hub 166 includes throughslots 200 in place of holes 188. A common slot 200 c is used inconjunction with a first group of slots 200 a in order to create a fivebolt patter. The common slot 200 c is alternatively used in conjunctionwith a second group of slots 200 b to create a four bolt pattern. Thewheel 106 is secured to the hub 166 of the wheel mount 164 by passing alug bolt through the back of the hub 166 and through the lug hole 172 inthe wheel 106. A head on the lug bolt prevents it from passingcompletely through the slot, and a lug nut 174 engages the lug bolt andtightens the wheel 106 to the hub 166. In this manner, a single“universal” hub may be used for a wide variety of four or five boltpatterns regardless of the diameter of the bolt hole pattern.

Referring again to FIGS. 7 and 8, a mounting post 176 extends from arearward side of the wheel mount 164. The mounting post 176 has anexterior cross-sectional diameter slightly smaller than the insidediameter of the mounting receptacle 162, and the mounting post is shapedso that the outside diameter of the post 176 corresponds to the insidediameter of the receptacle 162. After the wheel mount 164 is secured tothe wheel 106 using lug bolts 168 and lug nuts 174, the wheel and wheelmount are lifted together to the height of the receiver 160. Themounting post 176 is inserted into the mounting receptacle 162. There issufficient overlap between the mounting post 176 and the receptacle 162to hold the wheel 106 on the rack 100 when the user releases the wheel.

In order to better secure the wheel once the wheel and wheel mount arein place, holes 178 extend transversely through the receiver 160 and themounting post 176. The mounting post 176 is pushed into the receptacle162 to a depth sufficient to support the wheel and so that thetransverse holes 178 in the receiver align with the transverse holes 180in the mounting post 176. A pin 182 is then inserted through thetransverse holes 178, 180, and a clip 184 is attached to the end of thepin 182 to prevent the pin from falling out. A single transverse hole178 may be used together with a receptacle 162 and mounting post 176dimensioned so that the end of the mounting post 176 contacts the bottomof the receptacle 162 or a stop 186 formed on an inside diameter of thereceptacle. In this manner, the transverse holes 178 in the receiver 160will be properly aligned with the transverse holes 180 in the mountingpost 176 when the mounting post is fully inserted into the receptacle162. Alternatively, a series of transverses holes 178 are spaced alongthe mounting post 176 and receptacle 162. The mounting post 176 can bepositioned at various depths within the receiver 160 at which a hole 180in the post 176 corresponds to a hole 178 in the receiver. Such a seriesof holes would allow the rack 100 to mount wheels 106 of varying widthsas closely as possible to the rack arm 104, making the stored wheels andrack as compact as possible.

Embodiments of the present invention also contemplate the use of othermeans to secure the wheel mount 164 to the receiver 160 once themounting post 176 is positioned within the receptacle 162. Examplesinclude: spring biased tabs, locking screws, bayonet fittings, and otherappropriate locking mechanisms. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,338,069,hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a positively locking,quick-release coupling that could be used in order to securely fastenthe wheel mount 164 to the receiver 160. Alternatively, a quick releasewheel mechanism such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,477,121, herebyincorporated by reference, could also be used.

In a further embodiment, covers are provided for the wheels. Thesecovers could include logos or other patterns on the surface of thecovers. For example, a user could select from different coversdisplaying different logos. For example, the covers could display afavorite sports team or hobby, such as a cover displaying the logo for acollege football team, an NBA basketball team, a NASCAR driver logo, themake or model of the user's vehicle, or a camouflage or other pattern.

The invention may be practiced in ways other than those particularlydescribed in the foregoing description and examples. Numerousmodifications and variations of the invention are possible in light ofthe above teachings and, therefore, are within the scope of the appendedclaims.

The invention has been described with specific reference to particularlypreferred embodiments and examples. Those skilled in the art recognizethat various modifications may be made to the invention withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof.

1. A wheel storage rack for storing wheels when not in use, comprising:a wheel mount removably attachable to a wheel, the wheel mountcomprising: a hub comprising a wheel mounting surface adapted to contactan inside surface of the wheel; a lug bolt secured to the wheel mountingsurface, the lug bolt passing through a lug hole in the wheel; and amounting post extending from the wheel mount in a direction opposite thewheel mounting surface; a receiver mounted to the storage rack, thereceiver comprising: a receptacle adapted to receive the mounting post.2. The storage rack of claim 1 further comprising a pin; wherein the pinpasses through a transverse hole in the mounting post and a transversehole in the receiver.
 3. The support apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising a quick release mechanism adapted to fasten the mounting postto the receiver after the mounting post is inserted into the receiver.4. The storage rack of claim 1 wherein the wheel mounting surfacecomprises one or more holes formed in a pattern such that the holecorresponds to the lug hole formed in the wheel.
 5. The storage rack ofclaim 4 wherein the lug bolt is inserted into the lug hole.
 6. Thestorage rack of claim 1 wherein the wheel mounting surface comprises oneor more linear slots extending through the hub, wherein the radialposition of the slot corresponds to the radial position of the lug holeformed in the wheel.
 7. The storage rack of claim 6 wherein the lug boltpasses through the slot and is positionable along the length of the slotso that the lug bolt position corresponds the position of the lug holeformed in the wheel.
 8. The storage rack of claim 1 further comprising asupport arm to which the receiver is mounted.
 9. The storage rack ofclaim 8 wherein the storage rack is secured to a vertical surface, andwherein the receiver extends from the support arm in a directionperpendicular to the plane of the vertical surface.
 10. The storage rackof claim 8 further comprising a central post to which the support armattaches.
 11. The storage rack of claim 10 further comprising a base towhich the central post mounts.
 12. The storage rack of claim 11 whereinthe base comprises castors.
 13. The storage rack of claim 10 furthercomprising a connector attached to an upper end of the central post suchthat the rack can be suspended from a surface above the rack.
 14. Thestorage rack of claim 1 further comprising a wheel cover.
 15. A wheelstorage rack for storing wheels when not in use, comprising: avertically extending central post; an arm connected with the centralpost at a first end of the arm, the arm extending from the central postat an angle relative to the central post; a horizontally extendingreceiver connected with a second end of the arm; and a wheel mountremovably attachable to a wheel, the wheel mount comprising: a hubadapted to contact an inside surface of the wheel; a lug bolt extendingfrom the hub in a first direction and passing through a lug hole formedin the wheel; and a mounting post extending from the wheel mount in asecond direction opposite the first direction; wherein the wheel mountis attached to the second end of the arm by sliding the mounting postinto the receiver.
 16. The storage rack of claim 15 wherein: thereceiver comprises a transverse hole, the mounting post comprises atransverse hole, and the storage rack further comprising pin extendingthrough the transverse holes formed in the receiver and in the mountingpost.
 17. The storage rack of claim 15 further comprising aquick-release mechanism adapted to act between the receiver and themounting post.
 18. The storage rack of claim 15 wherein the central postis secured to and extends along a vertical surface.
 19. The storage rackof claim 15 wherein the central post is secured to and extends from ahorizontal surface.
 20. A wheel storage rack for storing wheels when notin use, comprising: a vertically extending central post; an armconnected with the central post, the arm extending from the central postat an angle relative to the central post; a receiver mounted to the arm;and a wheel mount removably attachable to a wheel, the wheel mountcomprising: a hub comprising a wheel mounting surface adapted to contactan inside surface of the wheel; a lug bolt secured to the wheel mountingsurface, the lug bolt passing through a lug hole in the wheel; and amounting post extending from the wheel mount in a direction opposite thewheel mounting surface; wherein the mounting post is inserted into thereceiver.